With seven available spots on defence, and seven veteran defencemen in front of him on one-way contracts, he knew his chances of landing a spot on opening night were slim and none.

But that didn't stop him from turning in a rock-solid camp and making it to the final day of cuts.

"You have to show your best and I feel I did that," said the 20-year-old, who's been dispatched to the Hamilton Bulldogs. "But I knew coming in they had seven defencemen under contract so it would have been hard to crack the lineup."

But with new rules in the NHL that take the emphasis off of brute force and place it on skating, positioning and thinking, the five-foot-11, 203-pounder is definitely on the club's radar.

That's why head coach Craig MacTavish and GM Kevin Lowe were impressed enough with his game to keep him around until the very end.

"I thought I played well in the games I was in, and practised well," said Syvret.

"Going this long in training camp, hopefully when it comes time to call somebody up I'll be high on their list."